Display pack

ABSTRACT

A display pack for consumer products, especially toothbrushes. A sheet form plastics material support has a lower edge with plural bubble packs for the product arranged lengthways along the edge, and detachably linked to the support part by a first separable link. Lengthways adjacent bubble packs are integrally detachably connected to each other by one or more second separable link wherein lengthways sequential second links are at different distances from the lower edge of the support in a direction transverse to the lower edge of the support.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to display packs, particularly for consumer products, especially toothbrushes.

BACKGROUND

Display packs are well known articles in which products can be packaged and displayed in their packaged form, often by providing the display pack with means by which it may be hung from a display rack in a retail outlet such as a shop. A well-known type of pack for consumer products is the so called bubble pack in which a bubble part is made of a, usually transparent, plastics material and defining a bubble cavity suitable for the shape of the product to be contained therein. The bubble cavity has an open face which is closed with an easily openable or removable film material such as card or plastics film. Display packs are known which link plural bubble packs together with separable links such that an individual bubble pack may be removed by a purchaser. See for example WO-A-12/087317 and WO-A-02/70590 which disclose display packs for toothbrushes in bubble packs having a standardized hanging hole by means of which the display pack can be displayed on a standardized display hook as commonly used in retail outlets. Generally such display packs comprise an upper support part provided with the hanging hole, and on which for example product information can be displayed, and having a lower edge along the length of which a series of bubble packs are arranged sequentially extending like the teeth of a comb from the upper part and being detachably connected to the upper part by means of separable links, e.g. thin integrally made bridges of plastics material.

There is a problem with existing display packs for bubble packs of toothbrushes in that it can be difficult for a customer to detach a bubble pack located in the middle of the series of bubble packs without unintentionally detaching other bubble packs.

It is an object of this invention to address this problem. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention a display pack for consumer products is provided, comprising:

a sheet form support made in part at least of a plastics material and having a lower edge having a length direction,

plural bubble packs having a bubble part made of plastics material and defining a cavity for the product arranged lengthways sequentially along the edge, each bubble pack having a first end integrally detachably linked to the support part by a first separable link, and extending away from the lower edge in a direction transverse to the length of the edge to a second end distant from the support,

lengthways adjacent bubble packs being integrally detachably connected to each other by one or more second separable link wherein lengthways sequential second links are at different distances from the lower edge of the support in a direction transverse to the lower edge of the support.

As used herein the term “lower” refers to the orientation of the display pack during normal display usage, i.e. with the support uppermost and the bubble packs suspended below the support. Related directional terms such as “upper” etc. should be understood correspondingly.

The sheet form support may comprise a thin sheet of plastics material of the kind commonly used for displays, such as polypropylene or polyethylene, typically ca. 1 mm or less thick. The sheet form support may comprise a laminate, for example of layers of transparent plastics material with a display board in between, for example with text printed thereon. Such sheet form supports are well known in the art.

The lower edge is preferably straight and of a length such that typically five to ten bubble packs may be detachably connected thereto in line along the lower edge. In the field of toothbrush retail typically six bubble packs containing toothbrushes may be connected in this manner.

The sheet form support may for example be adapted to be hung or otherwise supported for display e.g. in a retail outlet. For example the support may be provided with an aperture to enable it to be hung from a hook. The position and dimensions of such an aperture may be determined by national standards, e.g. the so-called “Eurohook”. The support may for example be rectangular, with an upper edge opposite to the lower edge, and such an aperture may be near the upper edge.

Bubble packs of the general type used in the display pack of this invention are well known, e.g. as described above, and are for example used for containing toothbrushes.

Lengthways adjacent bubble packs may be made integrally detachably connected to the support by the abovementioned first separable links by integrally forming the plastic material part of the support and the bubble part together e.g. by thermoforming the bubble part and the support integrally and in the process forming one or more easily severable integral bridge of the plastics material between the support and the bubble part. Ways of doing this are well known in the art.

The bubble packs preferably extend away from the lower edge in a direction which is perpendicular to the length of the lower edge of the support to their second end.

Lengthways adjacent bubble packs are integrally detachably connected to each other by one or more second separable link. Analogously as above, such separable links may be provided by integrally forming the plastic material part of lengthways adjacent bubble packs together, e.g. by thermoforming the bubble parts integrally, and in the process forming one or more easily severable integral bridge of the plastics material between adjacent bubble parts. Ways of doing this are well known in the art. Ways of doing this are well known in the art.

Each of the above-mentioned separable links may comprise one or more easily severable bridge(s) of the plastics material between respectively the bubble packs and the support, and between adjacent bubble packs. Suitable dimensions of such separable links to enable a user, e.g. a retail customer, to remove a bubble pack from the support, and to separate bubble packs from each other, e.g. by pulling or twisting a bubble pack relative to the support and/or an adjacent bubble pack will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Depending on the plastics materials of the support and bubble packs such links, e.g. integral bridges, may have a small dimension transverse to the separation direction, e.g. 0.5-5 mm. The links may comprise one or more substantially integral spot links. For example between a bubble pack and the support there may be two or three such spot links, and between lengthways adjacent bubble packs the separable link may comprise two such spot links.

Lengthways sequential second separable links between bubble packs which are lengthways adjacent along the lower edge of the support are at different distances from the lower edge of the support in the direction transverse to the edge. For example the separable link between one pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs may be in the half of the bubble pack closer to the first end, and the separable link between another pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs may be in the half of the bubble pack closer to the second end. For example the separable link between one pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs may be located at a distance ca. 20-40%, e.g. about a third, of the distance from the first end toward the second end of the bubble pack, and the separable link between another pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs may be located at a distance ca. 20-40%, e.g. about a third, of the distance from the second end toward the first end of the bubble pack.

The separable links between the lengthways adjacent bubble packs may be staggered along the length direction, so that the separable links between the lengthways adjacent bubble packs alternate along the length direction of the lower edge in their distance from the lower edge of the support, one being closer to the lower edge, the next being further, the next closer and so on.

In an embodiment the display pack of the invention may be provided in a form comprising two packs integrally connected at their respective upper edges, for example by integrally thermoforming the two supports. In such a construction the respective bubble packs extend in opposite directions. The integral connection may be a foldable or severable connection, for example weakened by a line of perforations, so that the two connected packs can be folded about the connected edges. The respective hanging apertures in the supports may be so located that in the folded state they align. Additionally or alternatively in this embodiment the display package may be severable about the connection between their respective upper edges to thereby provide two display packs.

From the preceding description it will be apparent that the display pack of this invention addresses the problem of enabling a customer to detach a bubble pack, especially in the field of toothbrush retail, located in the middle of the series of bubble packs without unintentionally detaching other bubble packs. This is achieved by means of the lengthways sequentially adjacent links being at different distances from the edge in a direction transverse to the edge, so that there is less transmission from one bubble pack to another of the force used to detach a bubble pack and therefore less likelihood of unintentional detachment of any other bubble pack when a bubble pack is removed. As further advantages the display pack of this invention allows preferential selection of an individual bubble pack without disturbing the rest of the elements in the pack and at the same time makes this format feasible at a lower packaging material consumption as it does not require a 360 degree frame unlike some other available concepts. Also the display pack of this invention is flexible from a trade perspective enabling display of multiple sets, for example six or twelve, bubble packs within the same production unit allowing great flexibility in manufacturing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a view of one form of a display pack of this invention.

FIG. 2 shows a view of another form of a display pack of this invention.

FIG. 3 shows the display pack of this invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 this shows a display pack 10 overall of this invention. The display pack 10 comprises a sheet form support 11 which is in the form of two layers of transparent plastics sheet material with a display board sandwiched in between with the user's text printed thereon and visible (not shown) through the transparent material in a manner well known in the art. The support 11 is rectangular in shape typically ca. 26×13.5 cm, and has a straight lower edge 12 and an opposite upper edge 13, each having a length direction “L”. Near the upper edge 13 is an aperture 14 of a standard so-called “Eurohook” shape and size by means of which the support 11 may be hung on a conventional display hook so that the lower edge 12 is downwards, this being its normal mode of use.

Six bubble packs 15 of rectangular shape typically ca. 23×4 cm, having a bubble part 16 made of plastics material and defining a cavity of a suitable shape and size to enclose a toothbrush (not shown) are arranged sequentially along the length of the lower edge 12. Each bubble pack 15 has a first end 15A integrally detachably linked to the support part 11 by three (there may be less or more) first separable links 17 each comprising a spot link integrally formed by thermoforming the plastics material parts of the support 11 and of the bubble packs 15 together. These separable links 17 have a sufficiently small dimension in the direction transverse to the separation direction, i.e. in the length direction “L” e.g. 0.5-5 mm that they can easily be severed by a user such as retail customer, to remove a bubble pack 15 from the support 11. Each bubble pack 15 extends away from the lower edge 12 in a bubble pack length direction “LB” perpendicular to the length L of the lower edge 12 to a second end 15B distant from the support 11.

Lengthways (along length L) adjacent bubble packs 15 are integrally detachably connected to each other by two (there may be less or more) second separable links 18 each of which analogously to the first severable links 17 comprises a spot link 18 integrally formed by thermoforming the plastics material parts of the adjacent bubble packs 15 together and forming each link 18 as a thin integral bridge of plastics material. Analogously to the first links 17 these spot links 18 have a sufficiently small dimension in the direction perpendicular to the length direction “L” e.g. 0.5-5 mm that they can easily be severed by a user such as retail customer, to separate a bubble pack 15 from its adjacent bubble pack 15.

It is seen in FIG. 1 that lengthways (along length L) sequential second links 18 are at different distances from the lower edge 12 of the support in the direction perpendicular to the edge 12. The links 18A for example are about a third of the distance from the first end 15A toward the second end 15B of the bubble pack 15, whereas the lengthwise (along length L) sequentially separable links 18B are about a third of the distance along length LB from the second end 15B toward the first end 15A of the bubble pack 15. It is also seen in FIG. 1 that the separable second links 18 between the lengthways (along length L) adjacent bubble packs 15 are staggered along the length direction L, so that the separable links such as 18A, 18B between the lengthways (along length L) adjacent bubble packs 15 alternate in their distance along length LB from the lower edge of the support 11, one 18A being closer to the lower edge 12, the next 18B being further, the next closer and so on.

FIG. 2 shows a display package 20 of this invention comprising two packs 10 as shown in FIG. 1 which are made integrally connected at their respective upper edges 13, for example by integrally thermoforming the two supports 11. This integral connection may be a foldable or severable connection, for example weakened by a line of perforations, so that the pack 20 can be folded about the connected edges 13. In this folded state the apertures 14 align so the pack 20 is able to display twelve bubble packs 15. Additionally or alternatively the display package 20 may be severable about the connection between their upper edges 13 to provide two display packs as shown in FIG. 1 each for six bubble packs 15 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows how the display package 10 might be used. By careful pulling and/or twisting of the bubble pack 15 between the severable links 18A and 18B, these links 18A and 18B have been severed to separate the bubble pack 15 between them from its two adjacent neighbours 151 and 152. With the bubble pack 15 between links 18A and 18B now separated from its neighbours, that bubble pack 15 may then be detached from the support 11 by careful pulling and/or twisting to sever the severable links 17. Because the lengthways sequentially adjacent links 18A and 18B are at different distances from the lower edge 12 there is less transmission from bubble pack 15 which is being removed in this way to another still attached bubble pack 15 of the force used to detach the bubble pack and therefore less likelihood of unintentional severance of other severable links 18 when this procedure is followed. 

1. A display pack for consumer products, comprising a sheet form support made in part at least of a plastics material, having an upper edge and having a lower edge having a length direction, plural bubble packs having a bubble part made of plastics material and defining a cavity for the product arranged lengthways sequentially along the lower edge, each bubble pack having a first end integrally detachably linked to the support by a first separable link, and extending away from the lower edge in a direction transverse to the length of the edge to a second end distant from the support, lengthways adjacent bubble packs being integrally detachably connected to each other by one or more second separable link wherein lengthways sequential second links are at different distances from the lower edge of the support in a direction transverse to the lower edge of the support.
 2. A display pack according to claim 1 wherein the sheet form support comprises a thin sheet of plastics material, or a laminate, or two layers of transparent plastics material with a display board in between with the user's text printed thereon.
 3. A display pack according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the lower edge is straight and of a length such that five to ten bubble packs may be detachably connected thereto in line along the lower edge.
 4. A display pack according to claim 1 wherein the sheet form support is adapted to be hung or otherwise supported for display.
 5. A display pack according to claim 4 wherein the support is rectangular, with its upper edge opposite to its lower edge, and has an aperture for hanging the support on a display hook near the upper edge.
 6. A display pack according to claim 1 wherein lengthways adjacent bubble packs are made integrally detachably connected to the support by first separable links by integrally forming the plastic material part of the support and the bubble part together.
 7. A display pack according to claim 1 wherein the bubble packs extend away from the lower edge in a direction which is perpendicular to the length of the edge.
 8. A display pack according to claim 1 wherein the second separable link is provided by integrally forming the plastic material part of lengthways adjacent bubble packs together.
 9. A display pack according to claim 1 wherein the separable links comprise easily severable bridges of the plastics material between respectively the bubble packs and the support, and between adjacent bubble packs.
 10. A display pack according to claim 9 wherein the severable links have a dimension transverse to the separation direction of 0.5-5 mm.
 11. A display pack according to claim 1 wherein the severable link comprises one or more integral spot link.
 12. A display pack according to claim 11 wherein between a bubble pack and the support there are two or three spot links
 13. A display pack according to claim 11 wherein between lengthways adjacent bubble packs there are two spot links
 14. A display pack according to claim 1 wherein the separable link between one pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs is in the half of the bubble pack closer to the first end, and the separable link between another pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs is in the half of the bubble pack closer to the second end.
 15. A display pack according to claim 14 wherein the separable link between one pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs is located at a distance 20-40% of the distance from the first end toward the second end of the bubble pack, and the separable link between another pair of lengthways adjacent bubble packs is located at a distance 20-40% of the distance from the second end toward the first end of the bubble pack.
 16. A display pack according to claim 1 wherein the separable links between the lengthways adjacent bubble packs are staggered along the length direction so that the separable links between the lengthways adjacent bubble packs alternate in their distance from the lower edge of the support, one being closer to the lower edge, the next being further, the next closer.
 17. Two display packs each according to claim 1 integrally connected at their respective upper edges.
 18. Two display packs according to claim 17 wherein the integral connection is a foldable connection.
 19. Two display packs according to claim 17 wherein the integral connection is a severable connection.
 20. Two display packs each according to claim 1 wherein the two integrally connected packs can be folded about the connected edges and the respective hanging apertures in the supports are so located that in the folded state they align. 